Gibbous Moon by Creighton Broadhurst is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is an adventure for 3rd level characters that is also available in an expanded form, Gibbous Moon Collector’s Edition.
This is a 19-page PDF that is available from DriveThruRPG for $2.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, two pages are the front matter, one page is ads, one page the Contents and Foreword, one page is a title page and one page the Open Game License. There are also a couple of standard pages, Using this Adventure and Reading Stat Blocks, which explain how to read and use encounters, stat blocks etc. The PDF also comes in two versions, one optimised for print and high end devices, the other for screen and mobile.
The Foreword explains that this is intended to be a brief side adventure that can be slotted into an existing campaign. The village mentioned in the adventure is not described in detail, so it can be dropped in anywhere.
Adventure Background explains how a necromancer was gored by a wereboar and infected with lycanthropy. After slaughtering his companions the first time he turned, and others on later occasions, the necromancer decided to hide himself away, taking livestock from a nearby village to stop him slaughtering the villagers. The villagers are not happy about their livestock being taken.
The Adventure Begins has a couple of hooks to get the characters involved. They could be hired to recover the bones of the hermit who dwelled where the necromancer now lives so they can be buried with her parents, or they could be asked by the villagers to look into the matter of the lost livestock. They can find out more information by asking.
The first encounter, Clear Pool, is outside the hermitage where the necromancer dwells. There is a dire boar here and evidence of the lycanthrope’s predations.
The main encounter is the hermitage, a series of caves. There are some standard features for the caves, a d20 table of additional features and descriptions of the locations. The lycanthrope is not evil, so the characters could attempt to cure them, and another who has been infected. This gives thoughtful adventurers a different way of fixing the problem. Finally, there are hooks for other adventures.
Gibbous Moon in Review
The PDF is very well bookmarked with everything except sidebars linked. The Contents are not as thorough but are hyperlinked. Navigation is very good for a short supplement. The text maintains a two-column black and white format and a couple of minor errors were noticed. There are some black and white stock illustrations as well as the map; presentation is good.
This is a decent enough little adventure that is intended for a single session of play. It could be dropped in easily enough into most campaigns; characters do travel through villages and they could easily be asked to deal with the missing livestock problem. The most interesting part is that the necromancer is not evil. He isn’t terribly friendly, but he is trying to limit the damage he does and there is an alternative to simply slaughtering him. Gibbous Moon is a pretty nice side adventure and it can be found by clicking here.
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